Ever since the first time I sat in the driveway and picked up a ratchet and socket to hand to my Grandfather laying under a truck I have heard the saying "Pay Me Now, or Pay Me later - Either Way You're Gonna Pay". Words that had no meaning to me at the time as he continued to elaborate with oil running down his hands, but would become one of the most memorable phrases ever taught to me. A bicycle, tools, and on to cars, trucks, motorcycles, it became a mantra for everything I owned or worked on. Present day, it actually took some time for me to recall why I have an OCD like schedule in my head for the care and upkeep of all things.

 

Tools, anything mechanical, life; If I wanted to get the most use, best result, and wanted to rely on something, I had to appreciate it, take care of it, put in the effort - before I could reap the rewards or overt a critical failure or event. It was more than blue collar thinking, my Grandfather had plenty of money. Maybe it was the era he grew up in, the Northeastern farm, or the days he spent in the Navy. Unless you are prepared to replace prematurely, maintain it - BEFORE IT BREAKS!

 

Goal: Get every last drop of use and dollars worth or have an asset that has been well cared for and can be re-sold when you no longer have a use.

 

Ask yourself this;  

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Would you merely continue to drive and fill up that vehicle that you paid tens of thousands on or have a mortgage like loan on without ever getting an oil change or rotating your tires?

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How about ignoring the squeal of your brake pad noise indicator knowing fully that the next sound will be the metal brake pad back plate grinding into your rotors? A $50 fix or a $300 - $500 dollar fix - the choice is yours, but most practical people would rather spend the larger sum in other areas of life than to a poor choice of not to act when needed/required.

 

Now apply this to industrial equipment that is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and could cost your company the same if it were to breakdown unplanned. 

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Your choice;